www.ChrisLaBossiere.com

Much of my life over the last while has been consumed with the political discussion that is Bill 44 here in Alberta. From that discussion, I have seen much debate around how my party, the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta, is heading in a direction that many of us centrist-faithful has questioned.

One thing that has resounded lately is how some of us feel that the party is moving backwards on social issues. There is also a far right contingent that feels the party should become less progressive. This is starting to split the party, and the resurgence of the Wild Rose Alliance Party is making things worse. (Much of tonights discussion was around how the party is worried about vote-splitting between the PC's and a Danielle Smith led WRAP). All of this is leading to an annual general meeting in November of this year that might prove to be a watershed issue for our leadership. My thoughts on this are that the Premier, our party leader, has done a poor job of articulating and galvanizing the grassroots behind an agenda that resonates with the PROGRESSIVE conservative. Here's where I think we are missing the boat:

1. Fiscal pragmatism


2. A general trend towards social progressiveness


3. Protecting our Environment with insightful vision

So at the PC AGM this fall, we will vote in confidence on the leadership of the party. I have heard that the social right faction is working on it's position, and might even be working to retrench support for a swing to the right. That work might include an underground movement to support a new right-wing leader. I abhor the thought of this, and wonder if there might be an opportunity to look for new progressive leadership in the party.

Tonight I spoke with some personal passion about a policy resolution to have Section 9 of Bill 44 repealed. It was my goal to see if my constituency would take a stand against a further swing to the right. Luckilly our board of directors agreed that it was an important enough issue to be debated again at the provincial party level, but I have seen some party executive take the position that they hope for the issue to go away. I happen to think that our party needs to reconnect with the average Albertan, and one way to do that is for someone to stand up and speak against Bill 44.

So, I agree that we need a leadership review, but I also think that perhaps the good which might come from this, would be a new leadership candidate to step forward who would reconnect with the party moderate. Here's hoping.